A Comprehensive Guide on How To Clean a NATO Strap

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Many watch enthusiasts have various reasons why they collect watches. Some would say they like a particular brand, some just like the design. Regardless of your reason, it’s important to maintain the appearance of watches. This applies to some parts more than others because it’s what accentuates the overall appearance of the watch. 

One of the most prominent parts of a watch is the strap. Like most other watch parts, straps come in a lot of different designs. They’re also made from different materials, such as leather, metal, cloth, or rubber. There’s another kind of watch strap that’s also pretty popular among watch enthusiasts, which is the NATO strap. 

NATO straps are made from nylon webbing, making them pretty comfortable to wear. And since it’s easy on the wearer, it can be cleaned with little to no effort as well.

How exactly do you clean a NATO strap? In this article, we’ll shed some light on the matter at hand. Read on below to learn more.

Things To Remember

While a Nato strap is very easy to clean, it’s important to take note of the following so that it won’t suffer damage.

  • Do not soak a NATO strap in hot water because the nylon weave can melt.
  • Do not use a hairdryer to dry the strap. Again, heat will deteriorate a NATO strap’s quality.
  • Don’t use bleach.
  • Don’t use rubbing alcohol, specifically isopropyl.
  • Don’t scrub the strap vigorously.

With that out of the way, below are three ways that you can clean a Nato strap.

By Handwashing

  1. Use lukewarm water and put a few drops of hand soap. Any mild soap will do as well.
  1. Dampen the strap and lather it with the soap. If there are stains present, scrub them gently. Using a toothbrush is fine as well.
  1. Rinse the strap thoroughly. If there are still stains left behind, repeat step 2.
  1. Remove water in the strap by pressing it.
  1. Leave the strap to air dry on a flat surface. You can also use a towel to absorb excess water to make the drying process faster.

By Washing Machine

  1. Put the strap in a mesh laundry bag. This is important so that the strap’s buckle won’t damage the washing machine or other clothes. If not, you can put the strap in a sock or a pocket, preferably those of pants.
  1. Leave it to wash in the washing machine. Remember to use cold water, and you should also choose a gentle cleaning cycle. Don’t dry it because the nylon can be damaged.
  1. Leave it on a flat surface to be air-dried.

By Stain Removal Powder

  1. Get ice-cold water, and mix it with OxiClean. 
  1. Soak the strap and leave it for at least six hours.
  1. Scrub the strap with your hand to remove stains.
  1. Leave it on a flat surface to air dry.

When To Clean Your Nato Strap

When you should clean your NATO strap depends entirely on its usage. If you’re using it every day, it’s recommended to clean it once a week. If you switch straps, you can clean it every other week.

Conclusion

NATO straps are a good thing to use, especially if you want to feel comfortable while wearing a watch. Luckily, it’s also easy to wash, and all you have to remember is to not expose it to hot temperatures, or else it can break. If you wash your NATO strap properly, it will look as good as new.

NATO straps are a hit among collectors because they’re essentially considered mods. Mods are watch parts that can be mixed and matched with other watch models. If you’re looking for watch mod parts, Crystaltimes USA has got you covered! We offer a wide variety of mod parts that you can use for your watches. Contact us today to learn more!

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